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New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice needed
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Author:  Dan1234 [ Tue May 14, 2013 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:  New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice needed
Hello chaps

I have recently passed and received my dual badge (County Durham) and was wanting to pick a few experienced brains regarding my options for a vehicle.
To cut a long story short, I have approx a £10,000 budget to sort myself out a vehicle. My preference up to now has been searching for a reasonably low mileage estate car (in white due to council work) that i could then plate as a taxi. All the usual subjects have been looked at (Octavia, Passat, Insignia, etc).
I would appreciate if you guys could answer the following questions.

1. What gear will need to change a personal car to a Taxi? So far i have Vehicle plate (Taxi test included), Roof sign, Meter, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher, Stickers and signs (no smoking, first aid box etc), Tariff card.

2. Would you suggest the way i'm doing it to be a sensible one? or would people consider buying a "premade" Taxi or even a well used one.

3. Is there a preference on what car i should be looking at? or one to avoid in particular.

I'm sure i've missed a few questions that i'll remember soon but any help would be greatly received.
Cheers
Dan
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Tue May 14, 2013 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
FIRST OF ALL...

Have you asked your LA for its rules/regs/requirements for a vehicle, be it PH or HC...

Can you explain this?...

Quote:
My preference up to now has been searching for a reasonably low mileage estate car (in white due to council work) that i could then plate as a taxi.



I think you mean your LIST includes these? (not that you physically have them)

Quote:
So far i have Vehicle plate (Taxi test included), Roof sign, Meter, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher, Stickers and signs (no smoking, first aid box etc), Tariff card.
Author:  United Taxis 11 [ Tue May 14, 2013 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
well the vw,skoda,seat range will be your best bet if after reliability, try to avoid vauxhall as they are not really good at the taxiing in my experience's and sources, i run a skoda superb and if you want a car that has unreal cabin space go for one of them, a octavia is a bit smaller but still has plenty of room for taxiing, passats are also a good reliable car but that VW badge stuck on the bonnet will mean you will have to get a older car for the £10000 budget, here is a good car to start the search and its on a 12 plate within budget
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-SKODA-OC ... 4d0c592414
Author:  United Taxis 11 [ Tue May 14, 2013 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
sorry didn't notice the car had to be white well this one is still quite decent
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ogcode=hlp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ogcode=flp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... hp/1348845

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESTATE-2010-6 ... 4ac3a7b8c6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-59-SKODA ... 3ccd70b76b
Author:  trotskys twin [ Tue May 14, 2013 11:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
Advice dont come into this industry you will work billions of hours for zilch get assaulted spewed on abused and possibly murdered and whats more the trade is populated by gormless cretins unable to stick together and will undercut you at every opportunity just read the dick heads on here the star turns are

wannabe

bloodknock

2 real gormos bit typical if youve got any sense pull out !! if not in 10 years if yer still breathing your remember this advice and say "why didnt i heed old trots advice" kunnnnt" :D :D :D
Author:  United Taxis 11 [ Tue May 14, 2013 11:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
agree with trotskys on this one can be a dangerous job, i started in the very early 80's when the business was booming, not too many taxis and plenty of work, but over the years have seen a good decrease on wage, too many people have taxis!! know it sounds obvious and when your a freshman to the trade, no one likes you, you'l have to build your reputation up with other drivers and passengers and i have still not perfected mine, learn where to get the most hires and at what times, when the trains are due in i go and sit outside the station and pick people up off the platforms, in the morning i go to a quiet plot where a women i know phones for a taxi to go to bellshill a £13 hire and not may drivers sit there, but it will be learning curve, any new drivers i see i just don't look at them as it gets by blood boiling especially the ethnics of what few there are thankfully , most of the drivers i knew then have either popped off or stopped taxiing, but there are still a few and some have being doing it longer than me.
Author:  Sussex [ Wed May 15, 2013 6:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
Ignore the doom-mongers and see for yourself if it's viable, maybe they would prefer folks to stay on the dole and contribute f*** all.

Work as many unsociable hours as you can, as the more normal hours you work the less you will earn.

Look after your punters, but don't take any s*** from anyone.
Author:  trotskys twin [ Wed May 15, 2013 7:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
Durham is bloody site different from Brighton where sussex is based :D :D :D

dont do it find something else this trades fekked and as for your dole money you would only be getting back what you paid in precisely for times like this :D :D
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Wed May 15, 2013 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
15 years ago my friday shift (9am-4am) yielded enough to live on for the week, anything else was a bonus
Author:  Tico [ Wed May 15, 2013 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
listen trosky he tell you all you need know get out now while you have life if you stay kiss wife goodbye an turn into grumpy person who see all human failings first hand it job that should have health warning on it for both body an soul
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Wed May 15, 2013 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
quick repair, cheap car....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MONDEO-2 ... 35c75f2ffb
Author:  Dan1234 [ Wed May 15, 2013 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
wannabeeahack wrote:
FIRST OF ALL...

Have you asked your LA for its rules/regs/requirements for a vehicle, be it PH or HC...
Hey, yes i have a list of the requirements etc, it was more a case of getting a little advice from people who do the job.
Can you explain this?...

Quote:
My preference up to now has been searching for a reasonably low mileage estate car (in white due to council work) that i could then plate as a taxi.

Yes, i have been told by the few Taxi drivers that i know and am currently also getting advice from that to do council contract work, school runs etc the vehicle needs to be white.

I think you mean your LIST includes these? (not that you physically have them)

Quote:
So far i have Vehicle plate (Taxi test included), Roof sign, Meter, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher, Stickers and signs (no smoking, first aid box etc), Tariff card.

Correct mate, i haven't purchased these items yet.
Author:  Dan1234 [ Wed May 15, 2013 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
Sussex wrote:
Ignore the doom-mongers and see for yourself if it's viable, maybe they would prefer folks to stay on the dole and contribute f*** all.

Work as many unsociable hours as you can, as the more normal hours you work the less you will earn.

Look after your punters, but don't take any s*** from anyone.


Appreciate the post mate, to be honest i haven't really come for the "do it or don't do it" advice. I'm aware just from speaking to local Taxi drivers that one will say there is no money in it, yet another is doing well supporting his wife/kids with a nice house and holidays.
I'm willing to work the unsocial hours, i have no reason not to, i'm a single male with no debt to pay other than my flat rent/bills etc. I'm not going into it thinking i have to make 3,000 a month, quite simply £1,000 a month is more than i need to get by and see if the career is right for me.

I appreciate the help regarding the vehicle, seems its best to possibly stay away from Vauxhall and that skoda/VW are better choices. What about others? Peugeot/Citroen etc, any highly regarded taxi vehicles amongst those?
Author:  bloodnock [ Wed May 15, 2013 1:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
wannabeeahack wrote:
quick repair, cheap car....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MONDEO-2 ... 35c75f2ffb


I suspect that Airbag alone will be an Expensive fix.. :roll:
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Wed May 15, 2013 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New career as a Taxi driver, a little help and advice ne
bloodnock wrote:
wannabeeahack wrote:
quick repair, cheap car....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MONDEO-2 ... 35c75f2ffb


I suspect that Airbag alone will be an Expensive fix.. :roll:


not terribly so

ive already got the diagnostics to reset the lights.....lol
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